Bee-feeder.



PATENTED MAR. 7, 1905.

J. L. ROBERTS.

BEE FEEDER. AIPLIUATION FILED 1120.8. 1904.

Inventor Witnesses nire Srarns Patented lltl'arch 7, 1.905`

A'rniv'r erica@ BEEWFEEDEW.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 784,072, datedMareli '7, 1905.

Application filed December 8, 1904. Serial No. 235,982.

To r1.7] 'wh/om, 'it 'nt/ty con/cern:

Be it known that I, Janne LnsLrn Renners, a citizen ot the United States, residing at `Winlield, in the county ol Lincoln and State ot' Mis souri, have invented a new and useful Bee- Feeder, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to devices of' that class en'lployed 'for 'Feeding' syrup and similar materials to bees.

The principal object ot' the invention is to provide a novel Yform of feeder in which the danger of drowning of the bees will be reduced to a minimum and, further, to provide a device of this character in which the syrup will be conveniently accessible whether applied in large or small quantities.

With these and other objects in view, as will more fully hereinafter appear, the invention consists in certain novel features oit' construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying' drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportions, size, and minor details oit' the structure may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrilicing any of the advantages ot' the invention.

In the accompanying' drawings, Figure l is a transverse sectional elevation of a portion oi' a beehive, illustrating' a construction and arrangement of feeder embodying the features ot' the invention. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of the feeder removed, parts being' broken away in order to more clearly illustrate the construction. Fig. 3 is a similar view of a modilication of the invention.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts throughout the several ligures of the drawings.

Bee-feeders ol the magaZine'siphon, and other types are commonly used both in brooders and supers, and in those oli' the reservoir type the syrup will often fail to attract the bees when the supply is low, owing to its distance from the top of the reservoir, and, aside from this, there is danger oi' drowning when the bees fall into the syrup.

In carrying' out the present mven tion I provide a 'feeder which may be placed 1n the broeder or in the super, the leeder being o'l such construction that the syrup will be readily accessible whether a large or small quanti ty is ted.

In the construction shown in Figs. l and 2 the 'Feeder is in the 'lorm ol a slab or strip o'l" wood or similar material lniving the same general contour as that ot one ol the ordimu'y frames and being provided with projectingl lugs l1 at its opposite ends in order that it may take the place ol one o'lE the trames ol' the broeder. In this slab or strip are bored or otherwise Vformed a number ot' openings l2, into which the syrupis poured, the number of openings lilled depel'lding, of course, on the quantity to belied. In each oi the openings is a vertically-disposed rod 13 that extends ilrom top to bottom oli said opening' and preferably in the center oi the same, the rod being' arranged at the center ol the opening', so that each ot' the -syruivi-reservoirs is annu lar in form and ol such width that no matter where a bee may 'Fall into the syrup he is irnmediately within reach ot' either the wall ol. the opening or the surface ot the rod and can innnediately crawl out without danger ol drowning. At the top ot' each et the reservoirs or openings is a beeway I6 to permit the convenient passage oll the bees when a cloth or other cover .is in position over the broeder, and these are ot the utmost importance in that they really direct the bees to the syrup.

In some cases, especially where feeding' in a super, the 'feeder may be in the Form olI a block having' a large number ol' openings, each provided with a central rod as show n in Fi 3.

In the majority ol feeders that are elnployed to take the place ol one ol'l the Yframes. of the broeder it is dil'licult for the bees to gain access to the syrup where only a small quantity is 'led or as the supply is grmlually consumed; but in the present case no matter how small the quantity it is always accessible, inasmuch as only one or two or three ol'I the openings may be tilled, and these will be lllcd to the top, so as to immediately attract bees. Then but a small quantity is 'led in the ordinary feeder, it is placed at the bottom and is not so likely to attract the bees.

IOO

Having thus described the invention, what ervoiis, and a centrally-disposed iod oistandis claimed is# aid arranged within each reservoir and eX- 1. In a bee-feeder, a casing having a plutending' to the top thereof. iahty of reservoirs, each provided with a een- In testimony that I claim the foregoing as I5 5 tially-disposed rod oi standard extending to my own I have hereto affixed my signature'in the top of said reservoir. the presence of tivo Witnesses.

l 2. In a bee-feeder, a slab oi plank having` l end lugs oi' flanges, and provided with a plul JAMES LESLIE ROBERTS iality of independent reservoirs, the material IXTitnesses: 10 at the top of the plank oi' board being ie- C. A. ADMIRN,

moved to foi-in beeways at the tops of theresl LEWIS ADMIRE. 

